Display device



Feb. 15, 1944. E. WAGINER EI-AL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 50, 194i zSheets-Sheet 1 m w mmw V w Erwin, BY Gear 6 Feb. 15, 1944.

E. WAGNER ET AL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 30, 1941/1IIIIIIIIIII,,IIIIII,III

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY O INVENTORS:

W W WW5? Patented Feb. 15, 1944 DISPLAY DEVICE.

Erwin Wagner, Berwyn, and George Auer, Chicago, Ill., assignors toWagner Sign Service, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application September 30, 1941, Serial No. 413,000

20 Claims.

This invention relates to display signs and display devices, and isparticularly concerned with a new device for displaying, either alone orin combination with other objects, letters conveying a desired message.

The invention contemplates a carrier member having an elongated displayshelf or display surface for receiving a plurality of letters removablyassembled thereon and edgewise projecting therefrom to form the message.

The device thus formed constitutes a sign that may be mounted fordisplay in any suitable manner-horizontally, face up with the lettersextending upwardly on a horizontal line, or on a vertical line with theletters extending laterally in an up or down sequence and spelling themessage vertically upor downwardly, or in inverted position, face downwith the letters depending therefrom, forming a horizontally suspendedmessage. In short, the new sign may be disposed for display in anydesired position-- vertically, horizontally, or at an angle.

The new sign may be used alone, as outlined, or in combination with anew display stand or display device comprising a plurality of displayshelves separated by an illuminated panel. The message carrying sign maybe placed either in front of the panel which then forms a backgroundtherefor, or it may be placed in back of the panel to be visibletherethrough, and the free shelf of the display stand may in either casebe used for receiving articles for display in conjunction with the signmessage.

The term letters or equivalent language, as used herein, is intended toinclude letters, characters, numerals, figures, or suitable symbols orcombinations designed to convey, alone or in combination with other signelements, an informatory or a descriptive message. The letters may be ofthe general type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,048,040 or in U. S.Patent No. 2,038,978.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 shows a simple embodiment of thenew sign, with one letter mounted thereon;

Fig. 1A illustrates a modification;

Fig. 2 is. a section through the sign and letter along lines 2-2 in Fig.1;

Figs. 3 and 4 show embodiments of different bases for the sign;

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the new sign with letters mounted thereon,wherein the secure Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the si n which isparticularly suitable for use with lug type letters;

Fig. 8 is a section along lines 8-8 in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectionsimilar to the sections shown in Figs. 6 and 8, illustrating how thesign maybe made to support either the simple flange type letter or theflanged lug type letter;

Fig. 10 is an embodiment of the new displa device or display stand;

Fig. 11 shows the assemblage of the new display device with the new signcarrying letters forming a message; and

Fig. 12 illustrates a diagrammatic section along lines I2-I2 of Fig. 11,and shows, in addition, in dotted lines, a difierent combination of themessage-carrying sign with the new display stand. 1

Like parts are indicated in the various draw ings by like referencenumerals. Details and elements that may be assumed to be well known willbe described or mentioned only to the extent neeessary for understandinthe invention.

The sign shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a carrier or support formingthe elongated display surface II and the front wall I2. The ends of thecarrier may be closed by suitable plates. If desired, the carrier may bemade U-shaped in transverse cross-section having a rear wall angularlyextending from the display surface II opposite the front wall I2. Thecarrier body may also be made of suitable molded material, for example,of a phenol condensation product such as Bakelite, Tenite or the like,or even of wood, or in short, of any desirable and suitable material.Means, for example, eyelets, openings, clamps or hooks may be providedfor attaching the carrier to a support.

A plurality of suitably shaped springs, such as noted at I3, I4, I5, I6and I8, may be mounted with their rear ends on the display surface II,as shown. These springs may be suitably attached by screws, by weldingor riveting or the like, and may be spaced apart so as to serveasholding or securing means for letters assembled on the carrier- Thespacing of these springs should be so that it will not interfere withthe proper spacing of the letters forming the message. The total length.of the carrier member will depend on the size'of the sign that is to beproduced or, in other words, on the number and size of letters tobe'displayed. The number of springs will depend on the length of theletter carrier or rail as well as on the type of letters to bedisplayed. In order to explain this point a little more in detail, itshould be kept in mind that the letters may be furnished in differentsizes and the user may obtain several sets of letters of differentsizes. The message to be displayed may be made up of letters of eitheridentical or different size. For example, the capitals may berepresented by larger size letters than the remainder of a word ormessage. The letter is, briefly stated, a sign symbol, and such symbolmay also be made so as to represent an ornamental design which differsin size from the size of the other sign elements. Although the lettersor symbols in a message may be uniformly spaced from each other, theirshape and outline may require non"- uniform spaces between the springsholding them in position. Therefore, the number of springs to be usedshould be chosen and spaced so that there will always be a spring inback of a letter, symbol or other sign element when it is placed on thecarrier in juxtaposition with others, no matter what the element mayrepresent or what its size.

A mounting member which may be in the form of a strip or ledge I1 isdisposed lengthwise of the display surface. This member is suitablyattached by screws, by welding or riveting or the like, and is curved atthe places where the various springs are located so as to loop slightlyover each spring and to provide a backing or stop for each spring. Thisstrip or mounting means ll has a dual function: First, it holds thesecuring springs against detrimental displacement and reinforces thepressure tension thereof; and second, it furnishes a ledge against whichthe letters are placed so as to form the properly aligned message. Thestrip l'l holds the letters against transverse and angular displacement;i. e., the letters cannot slip back crosswise of the display surface,and they cannot twist angularly. They are held in lengthwise alignment.The cross-section illustrated in Fig. 2 indicates clearly that the rearedge of the flange of the letter l9 abuts against the front edge of thestrip I1 and that the securing spring l8 projects forwardly through thelooped section of the strip ll, engaging the bottom flange portion 20 ofthe letter l9 and holding it in place. Each and every other letter inthe message may be mounted in the same way. The securing springs holdthe letters down in display position and against longitudinaldisplacement lengthwise of the display surface.

The letters used in the presentinvention may be of the general structurenoted in the previously mentioned U. S. patents and may be made of anydesired material, including transparent or semi-transparent ortranslucent molded artificial or plastic materials, for example,materials such as that known under the trade name Tenite or the like,and may be furnished in any one of a great number of colors. Theinclined notches required for mounting the letters in accordance Withthe previously mentioned Patent No. 2,048,040 may be omitted if desired;that is, the rearwardly extending flanges of a letter used in thepresent display structures may extend peripherally uninterrupted aroundthe entire outline of the letter. Lug type letters may also be used inthe present case, such as shown, for example, in the previouslymentioned Patent No. 2,038,978, or the lugs may be omitted if desired.

The structure of the letters may be modified in various ways. The lettermay consist, for example, of a body portion which outlines the intendedshape, provided with an angular extension or a plurality of extensionsor projections simulating flanges. The flanges or extensions takingtheir place are then in a sense mounting members for the letters. If theletters are made of materials that would not be self-supporting or wouldbe subject to bending or warping, the flanges will reinforce the body ofthe letter and prevent such or other distortion of its shape.

The modified structure illustrated in Fig. 1A comprises a carrier memberhaving a display surface H and the side walls or ledges ll and I1".These ledges may be very low, and one of them takes the place of amounting member or mounting ledge for holding letters assembled on thecarrier against transverse and angular displacement in a'similar manneras the mounting member I! described in connection with the structureFigs. 1 and 2. A number of projections such as 8, 9, it are punched outfrom the material of the display surface ll. Springs l3 are furnishedwith the sign structure for removable insertion in any one of theloop-like extensions 3, 9, iii. The letters or sign elements are alignedon the display surface with their flanges extending rearwardly from theledge, for example, ledge H. In back of each letter will be a loop suchas 8, 9, I0, and a spring i3 is inserted as shown with loop 9, forengagement with the flange of the letter in front thereof to hold it inproper position on the display surface and against displacementlengthwise thereof. Other letters are secured in the same manner. Theremovable springs i3 constitute the securing means of the signstructure. The carrier may be provided with suitable means, eyelets,hooks or the like, for holding it in proper display position. Only afraction of the carrier is shown in Fig. 1A; its length will depend onthe maximum number of letters to be assembled thereon to form a desiredmessage.

The embodiment Fig. 3 shows a letter carrier having a raised rearsection 2| forming With the frontal section 22 a ledge or mountingmember 23. This ledge has the function of the strip I1 or the ledge llused in the embodiments Figs. 1 and 1A; that is, the letters areassembled against the ledge 23 so as to form a properly aligned messageon the carrier. The frontal section of the carrier which forms thedisplay surface is provided with a number of holes such as 24 suitablyspaced from each other in a similar manner as explained in connectionwith the embodiments Figs. 1 and 2. There is no particular provision inthis simple embodiment for holding each letter in place. Instead, eachletter may be provided with adep'ending pegor lug for insertion in acorresponding hole 24, holding the letter in place against the ledge 23and securing it against lengthwise displacement.

The embodiment Fig. 4 is similar to the one shown in Fig. 3, butdispenses with the need for a mounting ledge such as 23 or a mountingstrip such as N. This extremely simple letter carrier may consist of amember 25 made of suitable material and provided with a ntunber ofsquared openings 26. These openings are again spaced from each other aspreviously mentioned and the letters are in this case provided each witha square peg or lug for insertion in one of the holes 26. The square'peg is in this case the means for'holding the letteragainsttransverse;angular or lengthwise displacement.

The embodiments Figs. 3 and 4 are mentioned forthe sake of completeness.They are very simple examplesof how the invention may be realized. Theneed for providing each letter with a peg is a feature that may not bedesired, and therefore of all embodiments so far described, thoseshownin Figs. 1, 1A and 2 are thought to solve the problem better than theembodiments Figs. 3 and 4. No machining or conditioning of the lettersis required when used in connection with the embodiment Figs. 1, 1A and2. Mounting means as mentioned :before, for example, clamps, eyelets,openings, or books may also be provided in case of the carriers Figs. 3and 4, and likewise in case of the carriers noted below and shown in theremaining figures.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a furtherembodiment of a sign comprising the displaysurface,30, which .is part of the carrier member, and a mounting means3| projecting therefrom in the form of a strip or ledge and taking theplace of the member I! previously discussed in connection with Figs. 1and 2. The carrier body is slotted underneath the ledge 3l, as indicatedat 32, and forwardly projecting from this longitudinally extending slotare a number of securing springs 33, 3d, 35 and 36. Each of thesesprings is mounted on a bushing 37, as shown in connection with spring34 (Fig. 5), or on a bushing 38, as shown in connection with spring 36(Fig. 6). These bushings in turn are longitudinally slidably mounted ona suitable bar 39. The bar 39 may be square, so as to prevent theturning of the spring bushings. The device may be equipped with amaximum numbenof springs sufficient to provide for securing a, maximumnumber of any given letters on the carrier. The springs are slidablymounted on the bar 39 and may thus be brought into any positionlengthwise of the display surface, that may be required for obtainingproper spacing of the letters. If desired, each bushing may be providedwith an extension projecting from a suitable slot in the carrier housingand equipped with a knob at its outer end so as to shift the bushing andits securing spring into position.

The ledge 3| defining the upper side of the slot 32 operates as amounting for proper alignment of the letters and also as a protectivebacking for the forward ends of the springs. in a similar manner as themember I! in embodiments Figs. 1 and 2. This can be clearly seen in Fig.6 which illustrates how the letter 43 is mounted. It is held againsttransverse and angular displacement by the mounting ledge 3|, and isheld in position on the displaysurface 30 and against lengthwisedisplacement by the securing spring 36. The spring in turn is backedagainst any detrimental displacement by the ledge 3|. The relativeproportions in Figs. 5 and 6 (and also in other figures) are somewhatdistorted in order to bring out details more clearly; the ledge 3| (orcorresponding parts in other figures) need not be as high as might beinferred from the drawings. It is merely necessary to provide for aslight rise from the display surface sufiicient to accommodate thelongitudinal slot and the securing springs, as well as for the veryslight movement required for the springs to secure the flanges of theletters in display position.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is similar to the one justdescribed with reference toiFigs. 5 and 6, but is particularly adaptedfor holding letters ofthe lug type. The carrier'body is provided with adisplay surface 45 and a mounting ledge 46 for aligning the letters. Infront of the ledge is a slot 41. The letters such as 48 are eachprovided with a depending lug 49. The lugs of the letters extenddownwardly through the slot 41, as shown in Fig. 8. In the rear of thisslot is a strip 50 forming a movable portion of the slot. This strip isheld in a forwardly biased position by suitable spring means 5|. A crossbar 52 may be provided for holding the rear ends of the springs,or theserear ends may extend back to the rear wall of the carrier housing. Thestrip 50 may be made ofyieldable tape-like material, for example, a thinmetal tape, so as to provide for slight difierences in the thickness ofthe lugs 49. The springs 5| may be adjustable or movable longitudinallyof thestrip 50. This can be taken care of by mounting the pegs at theends of the springs in a guide groove in the member 52 or in the wall ofthe carrier. Leaf springs may be used in place of the springs shown.

The embodiment Fig. 9 is generally along the lines of the one discussedin connection with Figs. 5 and 6, but may be used for simple flangedletters as well as for the lug type letters. The letter 55 shown in thisfigure is provided with a depending lug 56 which extends downwardlythrough a longitudinal slot in the carrier. The spring 36 corresponds tothe identically marked, but unprimed, spring in Fig. 6; other identicalparts are likewise identically numbered but carry primed referencenumerals. Their function is the same as discussed in connection withFigs. 5 and 6. As noted before, the relative proportions of the parts inthis figure are somewhat distorted. Care should be taken to dimensionand to place the parts so that the letters with their lugs can be easilyput in place in the carrier slot.

The device, Figs. 5 and 6, is shown equipped with a square springmounting bar 39. This bar may be attached at its ends in the end wallsof the carrier member in suitable brackets, or such brackets may bemounted, depending from the inside of the carrier housing. Supports mayalso be provided for the bar 39 intermediate its ends, if desired. Thespring bushings 38 are slidable on the bar 39 but are not rotatablethereon. The pressure tension of the springs, therefore, will be merelya function of the displacemont caused by the insertion underneath eachspring of the flange of a letter, and such pressure will sufiice formost practical conditions.

The display stand for use in combination with any of the signs so fardiscussed, and particularly in combination with the signs shown in Figs.5 to 9, comprises, as shown in the embodiment Fig. 10, a housing havinghorizontally extending display shelves or surfaces 60 and 61. Theseshelves are divided by a slot 62. There are two similarly shaped endwalls 63-64 each provided with a milled slot, as shown at 65 and 66.These slots may terminate in means for supporting the panel 61; forexample, they may extend downwardly for part of the height of the endwalls and may end in shoulders on which the panel rests at its ends whenin inserted position. The panel 6'! may be made of glass and is slidinto these slots and into the longitudinally extending center slot 62,thus dividing the two display shelves to and B I. Brackets 68 carryinglamps 59 may be disposed inside of the housing, as shown underneaththeslot 62, and there-- fore substantially underneath the lower. edge"of the light diffusing panel 61. Light reflecting upwardly illuminatesthe panel from its lower edge. The slots 65 and 66 are milled in theside walls down to a point slightly below the shelf surfaces. The sidewalls may be omitted; the end walls of the housing may be provided withthe milled slots.

The previously described sign, for example, the one discused inconnection with Figs. 5 and' fi, carrying the assembled message, may'bedisplayed on the device Fig. in front of the light diffusing panel 61,as shown in Fig. 11 (and at the left in full lines in Fig. 12) or it maybe dis.- played in back of the panel, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.12. Whatever shelf is free may be used for displaying any desiredarticles. The letter rail or sign with its message may also be displayedindependently in any desired location, as previously discussed, and inthis case the display stand may be used for displaying any desiredarticles.

Among the many uses to which the new sign may be put is display of achangeable message on display counters, or along the ceiling coves orcornices of walls, for example, in display or store rooms. Such coves orcornices may be provided with indirect lighting, furnishing a backgroundfor the message, consisting of the letters or characters, figures orsymbols, assembled on the carrier.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claimsin which we have defined what is believed to be new and what is desiredto have protected by Letters Patent of the United States.

We claim:

1. A display sign comprising a carrier member having an elongateddisplay surface for receiving letters which project therefrom in adirection generally perpendicular thereto, mounting means for holdingsaid letters against transverse and against angular displacement, and aplurality of spring members which are individually adjustable lengthwiseof said display surface, said spring members constituting securing meansfor removably holding each letter on said display surface and forsecuring it against displacement lengthwise of said surface.

2. A display sign comprising a carrier member having an elongateddisplay surface for receiving letters which project therefrom in adirection generally perpendicular thereto, each letter being providedwith an extension, a slot in said carrier member for receiving theextensions of said letters, mounting means for holding said lettersagainst transverse and against angular displacement and movable means,disposed underneath said slot constituting securing means for removablyholding each letter on said display surface and for securing it againstdisplacement lengthwise of said surface.

3. The combination of a display sign as defined in claim 2, with adisplay device comprising a pair of shelves each adapted to receive saidsign, a light diffusing panel removably disposed upright between saidshelves, members for holding said panel, and illuminating 'meansdisposed below said shelves substantially underneath the lower edge ofsaid panel.

4. The combination of adisplay sign as defined in claim 2, with adisplay device comprising a box-like housing forming two parallelhorizontally extending elongated shelves divided by a. centrallyextending slot, light diffusing means in said slot, and illuminatingmeans disposed in said housing underneath said slot. 5. In combination,a housing forming two elongated horizontally extending parallel '5shelves divided by a centrally disposed slot, a

light diffusing panel removably disposed edgewise in said slot andvertically projecting therefrom, illuminating means in said housingunderneath the lower edge of said panel, a carrier member for placementon either one of said shelves, a plurality of letters removably disposedupright on said carrier member forming a message for display againstsaid panel, each letter having a body forming a frontal .15 face in aplane substantially parallel with said panel and flanges rearwardlyextending therefrom, common mounting means on said carrier for holdingsaid letters against transverse and angular displacement, and individualsecuring means for holding each letter in place and against displacementlengthwise of said carrier member.

6. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein a projection on saidcarrier member constitutes said common mounting means, and wherein aplurality of spring means extending transversely of said carrier memberand spaced from each other longitudinally of said carrier memberconstitute said securing means.

7. The combination defined in claim 5, wherein a step-like projection onsaid carrier member constitutes said common mounting means, and whereina plurality of spring means extending transversely of said carriermember and spaced from each other longitudinally of said carrier memberconstitute said securing means, together with means for adjusting thelongitudinal spacing between said spring means in accordance with thespacing between the letters forming said message.

8. A display-sign wherein a plurality of letters each having a frontalface and peripheral flanges rearwardly extending therefrom are assembledto form a message for display against a suitable background, a devicefor removably mounting said letters comprising a carrier member, aplurality of spring means each for engagement with the flange of one ofsaid letters, and a backing on said carrier member coacting with saidletters and with said spring means.

9. The display sign defined in claim 8, wherein said backingcoacts withsaid letters to maintain alignment thereof, and with said spring meansto reinforce tension pressure and to limit displacement thereof.

10. A display sign wherein a plurality of letters each having a frontalface and peripheral flanges rearwardly extending therefrom are assembledto form a message for display against a suitable background, a devicefor removabl-y mounting said letters comprising a carrier, a pluralityof spring means each for engagement with the flange of one of saidletters, and a backing on said carrier coacting with said letters andwith said spring means, said backing having the four-fold function ofholding said letters on said carrier member against trans-- verse andangular displacement, of reinforcing the pressure exerted by said springmeans on the flange of the letters, and of limiting the displacement efsaid spring means.

11. The display structure and combination defined in claim 10, togetherwith means for moving: said spring means to adjust the spaningtherebetween longitudinally of said carrier member in accordance withthe spacing between the letters forming said message.

12. A sign comprising a display device having an elongated displaysurface for supporting thereon a row of removably assembled letterswhich project therefrom in display position in a direction generallyperpendicular thereto and form a message thereon, rigidly positionedmounting means forming part of said device and projecting therefrom inback of said letters for holdin said letters in display position on saiddevice against transverse and against angular displacement relativethereto, and yieldable securing means forming part of said displaydevice for removably holding said letters in display position on saidsurface and for securing said letters against displacement lengthwise ofsaid surface.

13. The sign structure defined in claim 12,

wherein a ledge-like member projecting from said display surfaceconstitutes said rigidly positioned mounting means, and wherein springmeans disposed underneath said ledge-like member constitutes saidyieldable securing means. 14. The sign structure defined in claim 12,wherein a plurality of individually lengthwise adjustable springsdisposed underneath said rigidly positioned mounting means constitutesaid yieldable securing means.

15. The sign structure defined in claim 12, wherein a spring-operatedmember disposed underneath said rigidly positioned mounting meansconstitutes said yieldable securing means.

16. A display device for removably mounting letters in a row to form adesired message comprising a carrierhaving an elongated display surfacefor receiving said letters, a ledge-like member in back of said surfaceand elevated with respect thereto forming means for aligning saidletters in display position on said surface and for holding them againsttransverse and against angular displacement relative thereto, and springmeans disposed underneath said ledge-like member for holding saidletters on said surface against longitudinal displacement relativethereto.

17. A display device for removably mounting letters in a row to form adesired message comprising a carrier having an elongated display surfacefor receiving said letters, a ledge-like member in back of said surfaceand elevated with respect thereto forming means for aligning saidletters in display position on said surface and for holding them againsttransverse and against angular displacement relative thereto, and aplurality of springs disposed underneath said ledgelike member andspaced from each other lengthwise of said device for holding saidletters on said surface against longitudinal displacement relativethereto.

18. The device defined in claim 17, wherein said springs areindividually lengthwise adjustable so as to allow positioning andspacing thereof in accordance with the spacing of said letters on saidsurface.

19. A display device for removably mounting letters in a row to form adesired message comprising a carrier having an elongated display surfacefor receiving said letters, a ledge-like member in back of said surfaceand elevated with respect thereto forming means for aligning saidletters in display position on said surface and for holding them againsttransverse and against angular displacement relative thereto, and aspring-operated member disposed underneath said ledge-like member forengagement with said letters to hold said letters on said surfaceagainst longitudinal displacement relative thereto.

20. A display devicefor removably mounting letters in a row to form adesired message comprising a carrier forming an elongated frontalplatform constituting a display surface for receiving said letters inedgewise engagement therewith and forming a ledge in back of saidfrontal platform which is elevated with respect thereto and spacedtherefrom to form means for aligning said letters in display position onsaid surface and for holding them against transverse and against angulardisplacement relative thereto, and yieldable means underneath said ledgefor engagement with said letters to hold said letters on said surfaceagainst longitudinal displacement relative thereto.

ERWIN WAGNER. GEORGE AUER.

